Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Thursday, 12 April, 2018. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Council undertaking proactive carp control program

Posted on Thursday 12th of April, 2018,

Greater Shepparton City Council is taking proactive steps to ensure our lakes remain healthy and our native fish stocks are protected from carp by undertaking a Carp Control Program.

Council’s Coordinator Native Open Space, Paul Dainton, says the warmer conditions have created an ideal environment for carp to breed.

Mr Dainton said the carp control program involves electro fishing to stun and remove carp. Removing carp supports the native species and also provides other environmental benefits particularly around water quality.

The electro fishing program will be running from Monday, 16 April to Thursday, 19 April 2018.

Council has contracted in a company to conduct electro fishing in Mooroopna Recreation Reserve Lake, Victoria Park Lake (Shepparton), Parkside Gardens wetlands (Shepparton), Lake Bartlett (Tatura), Lake Lowanna and Lake Amaroo (Kialla Lakes).

The electro-fishing process involves emitting high voltage current into the nearby water, which stuns the fish, including natives caught in the electromagnetic field.

All stunned natives, both small and large, are removed from the water and kept in holding tanks until the electro-fishing is completed in that area, then returned back into the water unharmed. Once caught, the carp (including goldfish, which are very closely related) are removed.

GSCC has previously conducted electro-fishing in various lakes in 2012 and 2014.

Anyone who would like more information can contact Council’s Customer Service Team on (03) 5832 9700.